Do Mormons Really Believe Jesus and Satan Are Brothers?
One of the most common accusations made by critics of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the claim that Mormons believe in a “different Jesus.”
The argument is usually summarized with the phrase:
“Mormons believe Jesus and Satan are brothers.”
This claim is constantly repeated in online debates, social media posts, sermons, and anti-Mormon literature.
But Is it actually true?
What is the Biblical Definition of “Brother”
To answer that question we first need to know what the word “brother” actually means in the Bible.
The Bible uses the word in several different ways. We will evaluate them to find out if they actually describe the relationship between Jesus and Satan in Latter-day Saint belief. There are eight biblical uses of the word “brother.”
1. A Literal Male Sibling Born Through the Same Mother
This is the most obvious meaning: a male child born to the same parents.
Examples
- Cain and Abel (Genesis 4:2–9)
- Jacob and Esau (Genesis 25:24–26)
- Andrew and Peter (Matthew 4:18)
Does Mormonism teach this about Jesus and Satan?
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Satan and Jesus were both born to Mary? No
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum? No
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference? No
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Satan was literally born through Mary? No
Under this definition, Mormons clearly do not believe that Jesus and Satan are brothers.
2. A Close Blood Relative or Kinsman
The Bible also uses the word “brother” loosely for a relative, who may not be strictly a full sibling.
Examples
- Abraham calls Lot “brother,” even though Lot was his nephew (Genesis 13:8)
- Laban calls Jacob “my brother,” though Jacob was his sister’s son (Genesis 29:15)
- So in biblical language, “brother” can mean kinsman, relative, or someone of the same family line.
Does Mormonism teach this about Jesus and Satan?
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Satan and Jesus are blood relatives? No
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum? No
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference? No
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Satan is a blood relative of Jesus? No
This definition does not apply.
3. A Fellow Covenant Member
In the Old Testament the word “brother” can refer to a fellow member of God’s covenant people.
Examples
- “You shall not hate your brother in your heart.” (Leviticus 19:17)
- “You may not set a foreigner over you, who is not your brother.” (Deuteronomy 17:15)
- “If your brother becomes poor…” (Leviticus 25:35)
Does Mormonism teach that Jesus and Satan have entered a covenant relationship together?
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Satan is a fellow covenant member with Christ? No
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum? No
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference? No
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Satan is part of God’s covenant people? No
This definition does not apply. In fact, Satan represents the exact opposite of what covenants are meant to accomplish. Latter-day Saints believe that covenants are sacred promises made with God that bind us to Jesus Christ and give us power to overcome the effects of the Fall and the influence of Satan. Rather than being part of God’s covenant people, Satan is the adversary who seeks to destroy those covenants and oppose Christ’s work.
4. A Member of the Same Nation or People
Sometimes in the Bible the word “brother” refers to a fellow countryman or member of the same people.
Examples
- Moses speaks of being sent to his “brethren,” meaning the Israelites (Acts 7:23–35)
- Paul refers to “my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh” (Romans 9:3)
Does Mormonism teach this about Jesus and Satan?
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Satan belongs to the same people as Christ? No
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum? No
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference? No
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Satan belongs to the same nation or people as Jesus? No
This definition definitely does not apply.
5. A Fellow Believer or Disciple
In the New Testament Christians frequently call each other “brother” because they share faith in Christ.
Examples
- “Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? … whosoever shall do the will of my Father…” (Matthew 12:48–50)
- Early Christians address one another as “brethren.” (Acts 1:15–16; Romans 1:13)
- “Love the brotherhood.” (1 Peter 2:17)
Does Mormonism teach this about Jesus and Satan?
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Satan is a believer in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? No
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum? No
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference? No
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Satan is a disciple of Jesus Christ? No
Clearly, this definition does not apply. Satan is the exact opposite of a follower of Jesus Christ. His purpose is not to follow Christ but to oppose Him. Latter-day Saints believe that Satan’s goal is to lead the sons of Adam and daughters of Eve away from Christ, persuading them to deny Him and become servants of sin rather than disciples of the Savior.
6. A Fellow Human Being
Sometimes “brother” in the Bible refers simply to another human being in moral teachings.
Examples
- “First be reconciled to thy brother.” (Matthew 5:24)
- “If thy brother trespass against thee…” (Matthew 18:15)
- “He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.” (1 John 3:14)
Since Satan is not human, does not have a mortal body, and will never receive a mortal body this definition does not apply.
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Satan is simply another human “brother”? No
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum? No
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference? No
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Satan is simply another human brother? No
7. A Close Associate or Ally
Occasionally the word “brother” can describe association or companionship.
Examples
- “A covenant between brethren.” (Amos 1:9)
- “For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee.” (Psalm 122:8)
- “He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster.” (Proverbs 18:9)
Does Mormonism teach that Jesus and Satan are companions and allies?
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Jesus and Satan are associates? No
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum? No
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference? No
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Jesus and Satan are allies or companions? Absolutely not.
Jesus and Lucifer are the complete opposite of allies. Throughout scripture, Jesus and the prophets repeatedly rebuke, resist, and cast Satan out. Christ Himself commanded, “Get thee hence, Satan” (Matthew 4:10). The relationship between Christ and Satan is not one of companionship or cooperation, but of direct and continual opposition.
8. Shared Creation Under God
The only place critics can make their claim that Jesus and Satan are brothers work is with the broadest theological idea that God is the Father of all.
Examples
- “Have we not all one father? hath not one God created us?” (Malachi 2:10)
- “God hath made of one blood all nations of men.” (Acts 17:26)
- Is it taught in LDS scripture that Satan was created by God? Loosley – Examples Below
- Is it taught in Church manuals or curriculum that God is the creator of all spirit children? Yes
- Has it ever been preached in General Conference that Jesus and Satan are brothers? Yes
- Do Latter-day Saints believe Jesus and Satan are spiritually brothers? Sort of. In the broadest stretch of the definition.
Latter-day Saint scripture teaches that spirits existed before mortal life. That God created Lucifer, and that Lucifer rebelled against God’s plan.
Doctrine and Covenants 76:25–27:
25 And this we saw also, and bear record, that an angel of God who was in authority in the presence of God, who rebelled against the Only Begotten Son whom the Father loved and who was in the bosom of the Father, was thrust down from the presence of God and the Son,
26 And was called Perdition, for the heavens wept over him—he was Lucifer, a son of the morning.
27 And we beheld, and lo, he is fallen! is fallen, even a son of the morning!
Moses 4:1–4 describes Satan’s rebellion against God’s plan.
1 And I, the Lord God, spake unto Moses, saying: That Satan, whom thou hast commanded in the name of mine Only Begotten, is the same which was from the beginning, and he came before me, saying—Behold, here am I, send me, I will be thy son, and I will redeem all mankind, that one soul shall not be lost, and surely I will do it; wherefore give me thine honor.
2 But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.
3 Wherefore, because that Satan rebelled against me, and sought to destroy the agency of man, which I, the Lord God, had given him, and also, that I should give unto him mine own power; by the power of mine Only Begotten, I caused that he should be cast down;
4 And he became Satan, yea, even the devil, the father of all lies, to deceive and to blind men, and to lead them captive at his will, even as many as would not hearken unto my voice.
But notice something very important. Although the doctrine of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints teaches that Lucifer was a created being, everything we know about him shows that he stood in opposition to Jesus Christ and the Father’s plan. After Lucifer rebelled, he sought to destroy agency, and became the adversary. His role is not to support Christ’s mission but to oppose it.
No canonized LDS scripture ever states
“Jesus and Satan are brothers”
or
“Satan is the brother of Jesus.”
Those phrases also do not appear in LDS scripture, manuals, or General Conference.
What Latter-day Saint Doctrine Actually Teaches
The actual doctrine of the Church teaches that:
God is the Father of spirits
Jesus Christ is the Firstborn and Only Begotten Son in the flesh
Lucifer was a spirit who rebelled and became Satan
Official teaching never frames the doctrine using the phrase “Jesus and Satan are brothers.”
This Idea Is Not Unique to Mormonism
The concept that all beings ultimately derive their existence from God is not unique to Latter-day Saint theology.
Many Christian theologians have expressed similar ideas.
The early Christian writer Clement of Alexandria spoke of humanity sharing a universal brotherhood under God.
John Wesley taught that God is “the Father of the spirits of all flesh.”
C. S. Lewis wrote that all rational creatures ultimately derive their existence from God.
None of these theologians meant that good and evil figures were morally equal. They were simply describing the idea that God is the ultimate source of all life.
So why is this doctrine construed so specifically to Mormonism?
The Logical Problem With the Claim
Even under the loosest possible interpretation, the phrase “Jesus and Satan are brothers” is misleading and ultimately meaningless. Scripture consistently portrays them not as peers, but as complete opposites.
If “brother” simply means sharing a common origin as a created being of God, then that relationship applies to everyone.
By that logic:
- Paul the Apostle and Adolf Hitler would be “brothers.”
- Abraham Lincoln and Kim Jong-un would be “brothers.”
Obviously no one uses “brothers” that way in any kind of practical sense or normal conversation.
The outlandish use of the loose brother terminology only appears in discussions about the Mormon Jesus because it sounds shocking.
Why Critics Use the Phrase
The claim does not accurately represents LDS doctrine, but persists because it creates an emotional reaction.
By framing the belief this way, critics attempt to make the Latter-day Saint view of Jesus Christ sound:
- irrational
- dangerous
- demonic
This tactic is not new. From the earliest days of the Restoration, opponents of the Church used exaggerations and distortions to discourage people from investigating the faith.
In 1831, Alexander Campbell published one of the earliest anti-Mormon pamphlets attacking the Book of Mormon and calling it a “monstrous deception.”
Local newspapers like the Painesville Telegraph mocked the new faith and portrayed its beliefs in the most absurd terms possible.
The goal was the same then as it is now:
Create fear and suspicion before people examine the actual teachings.
Latter-day Saints do not teach that Jesus and Satan are brothers in any normal or meaningful sense of the word.
The phrase survives as a rhetorical shortcut used by critics to make Mormon beliefs sound strange or alarming. In order to make the claim work, the definition of brother has to be stretched far beyond how the word is normally used and beyond how the doctrine is actually taught.
If the beliefs of the Church were truly objectionable on their own, there would be no need to redefine terms or misrepresent what Latter-day Saints believe.
The reality is that the scriptures consistently portray Jesus Christ and Satan as complete opposites: one the Savior and Redeemer, the other the adversary who rebels against God’s plan and seeks to lead humanity away from Christ. In the end, the contrast could not be clearer.
Jesus Christ invites truth, light, and honesty. Satan thrives on deception and distortion. When arguments rely on misrepresentation rather than accuracy, they say far more about the tactic being used than about the doctrine being criticized.
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